Dad saved three kids from blaze which ripped through Wales farmhouse before he was killed with five other children

A FATHER saved three children from a blaze which swept through a farmhouse before he was killed with five other kids.

David Cuthbertson lowered the children — aged 13, 12 and ten — to the ground from an upstairs window.

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Pictures from the scene show just the smouldering shell of the property left following the blazeCredit: Wales News Service

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Members of the community, including a little girl, leave tributes at the site of the tragedyCredit: Wales News Service

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A heartfelt letter left by the young girlCredit: Wales News Service

But as flames raged through the remote property he was unable to help five younger children trapped with him.

A neighbour said: “David loved those kids so much. He got three out but not the youngest five. It may be the older ones ran to him but the smaller ones didn’t know what to do.”

Donations have poured in to support the builder's family, including three children, aged 13, 12, and ten, who escaped and remain in hospital in a non-life threatening condition.

Shocking pictures from the scene show the level of devastation, with just the smouldering shell of the property left on the rural site.

Specialist investigators are carrying out a fingertip search at the scene of the blaze as they try to discover what caused the inferno that consumed the family home.

Do you know the Cuthbertson family? Email emma.lake@the-sun.co.uk or call 02077824360

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The rear of the farmhouse was smouldering this morning, a day after the catastrophic blazeCredit: Caters News Agency

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Smoke can still be seen rising from the farmhouse more than 24-hours after the blaze broke outCredit: Caters News Agency

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Toys and flowers have been left close to the scene in the small Welsh villageCredit: Caters News Agency

Aerial footage of house in Llangammarch Wells where a fire killed several people

The young victims’ classmates wept in the street as they learned what had happened. At the gutted family home, one little girl placed a heartbreaking note.

The tribute, illustrated with a heart and a kiss, said: “I miss you all. I knew you all in school. I will miss my best friend.”

Emergency services rushed to the farmhouse shortly after midnight on Monday when one of the children ran to a neighbour's house and raised the alarm.

Fire crews, at the scene 11 minutes later, were confronted with an inferno.

Neighbours said the family rented the farmhouse and had lived in the village for 15 years after moving from the south of England.

Well-wishers had already donated more than £2,500 as heartbroken neighbours and friends described Mr Cuthbertson as an "exceptional father" and "gentle fella".

Neighbours have said he had about 17 children in total having been married three or four times.

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Cops and firefighters are investigating the cause of the fireCredit: BBC

Family of five feared dead after devastating blaze ripped through their countryside home in the early hours of this morning in Wales

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Credit: PA:Press Association

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The children were sleeping in the firehouse when the blaze broke outCredit: BBC

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Flowers have been left close to the scene as donations pour in to support the familyCredit: Caters News Agency

Ron and Rosemary Birchall, 68, who live nearby, said Mr Cuthbertson had been a builder before an accident caused him to stop work eight years ago.

Ron, 73, said: "We are close neighbours and Dave would always acknowledge us whether he was in the car or walking.

"My wife always talked to Dave so she is absolutely devastated.

"I knew him as a good father and a gentle fella. My wife would say he was an exceptional father."

He added: "He used to be a builder but suffered an accident up a ladder, fell off and injured his back. We think he was electrocuted and it threw him off the ladder.

"His wife had a stroke and was incapacitated for a while. She moved away and couldn't bring up the kids."

Ron added: "The kids were well presented and they used to pass us everyday. It really is very sad. Rosemary said it's the worst day of her life."

Rosemary said: "He was a single father with seven children. They were wonderful."

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The home was gutted by the raging fireCredit: BBC

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Cops at the scene of the countryside tragedyCredit: Athena Picture Agency

Locals said the 68-year-old dad had been bringing up his children alone following a custody battle.

It is understood that Mr Cuthbertson was staying with at least seven of his children in the house.

His older children, understood to be from a previous marriage and named locally as Bre, 30, Pia, 24, and Kit, 32, are believed to still live in the same village as their dad.

A local, who got to know Dave after he helped renovate their home, said: “His children were his life. He used to drop by for a coffee when he was in the middle of the custody battle.

“It was incredibly tough for him and he could be really low at times, especially when for a while it looked like he might not win."

The friend said Dave's children were his priority adding that he travelled by train to visit them when they were placed in separate care homes during the custody battle with his ex, named locally as Seema.

He continued: “I remember the day he was awarded custody. He was delighted and he could not stop smiling.

“It was not easy for him to look after all of those children with his bad back and at his age, but he was a brilliant dad."

The local added: “It’s horrible to think of the kids now. They had been through enough tough times already. This is another horrible blow."

Hotelier Mary Ann Gilchrist, a friend of David’s second wife Judy, said: “He was a very charming and charismatic man, good looking and an all-round nice guy.

“He was devoted to the children — he was a very caring father.”

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More than £2,500 has already been raised to support the family

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It is not known how many people may have been inside the houseCredit: Athena Picture Agency

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, had known an earlier wife of David's and said: “The whole village is in shock.

"It’s devastating. I knew the family as I was friends with David's ex-wife, Judy.

"I know they had children together but she has since remarried and now lives in Greece."

Local conservative MP Chris Davies said the people of Brecon and Radnorshire were “devastated” by the tragic fire.

He said: “As a father to two young girls, this news has shocked me to the core. My thoughts are with the family and local community at this terrible time.

“Our local emergency services were on the scene swiftly and have worked hard to put out the fire and identify who has been hurt.

"I will be keeping in close contact with the emergency services over the next 48 hours.”

It is understood mountain rescue workers spent more than eight hours at the scene helping fire fighters look for bodies.

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It is feared seven members of the same family died in the fireCredit: Wales News Service

Superintendent Jon Cummins said: “Dyfed-Powys Police is continuing to investigate and deal with the tragic house fire that occurred at Pointyn Farm, Llangammarch Wells, Powys shortly after midnight on Monday October 30.

"Specialist scientists and fire investigators continue to assess the scene, which is very complex and perilous.

“The 13, 12 and 10 year old children that managed to escape remain in hospital. None are in a life threatening condition, and they are being supported by specialist officers and family.

"Based on current information available to us, we are working on the hypothesis that 1 adult male and 5 children, aged between 11 and 4 years old, are unaccounted for and believed to be deceased within the house.

"Due to the severity of damage at the scene we are unable at this stage to identify any of the deceased.

“At this time we are treating the cause of the fire as unexplained. The family are our priority and they are being kept informed, and fully supported by specialist officers."

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An aerial view of the house which was gutted by fire in the early hours of the morningCredit: BBC

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A fire engine at the scene of the devastating house fire todayCredit: BBC

Community councillor Tim Van-Rees, said: "Our hearts go out to the members of the family who must be feeling in the depths of despair. It is truly an appalling tragedy.

"I have spoken to the owner of the property - he was alerted by one of the children who came to his house in the early hours of the morning.

"He called the fire service who went to the house straight away but unfortunately not everybody could be saved.

"The family have lived in the village for some time. We are planning to call an emergency meeting of the council to see what can be done for the family."

A spokeswoman for the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: "Our firefighters were faced with an extremely difficult situation and did all that they could to handle the situation, and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service commend their efforts.

"Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and the residents of Llangammarch Wells following this tragic incident.

"We will be present in the community over the following days if any of the public should have any concerns."

Chris Davies, Conservative MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, said: "My thoughts are with those affected by the reported fire in Llangammarch.

"I wish the emergency services well in dealing with this terrible situation."

Welsh Assembly Minister for the area Kirsty Williams told Wales Online: “This is devastating news in such a close-knit community.

"I’d like to express my deepest sympathies to those affected and thank the emergency services for their assistance.”